Air purifier

ABSTRACT

A humidifying air purifier includes a door assembly supported and configured to be selectively drawn out of a front side of a cabinet and drawn into the front side of the cabinet to respectively open and close an inner portion of the cabinet. The door assembly includes an accommodation portion configured to support an air filter and a humidifying device which are both drawn out of and into the humidifying air purifier with the door assembly.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application claims the benefit of priority under 35 U.S.C.119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2018-0007385(filed on Jan. 19, 2018), No. 10-2018-0026003 (filed on Mar. 5, 2018)and No. 10-2018-0133153 (filed on Nov. 1, 2018), the contents of all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to a humidifying air purifier capable ofperforming air purification and air humidification.

The air purifier is understood as a device which draws in contaminatedair to purify the contaminated air, and then discharges the purifiedair. For example, the air purifier may include an air blowing devicewhich introduces outside air into the inner portion of the air purifier,and a filter which is capable of filtering dust, germs, and the like inthe air.

In recent years, an air purifier designed to recognize the air purifieras one kind of furniture and emphasize the harmony between the airpurifier and the surrounding furniture has been developed. Particularly,in a case where an air purifier is provided in a bedroom, an airpurifier is proposed in which an outer appearance panel thereof is madeof wood material with an emphasis on harmony with a wardrobe or a bed.

The air purifier may include a drawer-type door similar to generalfurniture, and the door may be opened and the internal components of theair purifier can be cleaned or replaced.

With respect to such a drawer-type air purifier, the following relatedart document 1 is disclosed.

1. Patent registration number (Registration date): 10-0485578 (Apr. 18,2005)

2. Title of invention: Air purifier

According to the related art document 1 as described above, thefollowing problems may exist.

First, the air purifier of the related art document 1 includes an airblowing portion, a filter portion, and an intake opening/closing portionso as to be arranged vertically and installed in separate drawers.Therefore, there is a disadvantage that the user has to open all of thedrawers in order to access the inner portion of the air purifier.

Second, since the relatively heavy air blowing portion is stacked on thefilter portion and the intake opening/closing portion, deformation ofthe lower drawer in which the filter portion or the intakeopening/closing portion is installed can be caused.

Meanwhile, with respect to the drawer-type air purifier, the followingrelated art document 2 is disclosed.

1. Utility model registration number (registration date): 20-0419443(Jun. 14, 2006)

2. Title of Utility model: Drawer-type air purifier

According to the related art document 2 as described above, thefollowing problems may exist.

First, the air purifier of the related art document 2 is constructedsuch that an inlet for introducing air is formed on a rear surface and abottom surface of a main body. In a case of an air purifier having anouter appearance such as a piece of furniture, it is often disposedadjacent to a wall surface (rear surface or side surface) of the room.Accordingly, in a case where the inlet is formed on the rear surface ofthe main body and in a case where the space between the main body andthe wall surface is too narrow and the inlet is formed on the bottomsurface of the main body, the space between the main body and the bottomsurface is too narrow, so that the intake performance may bedeteriorated.

Second, a filter and a driving fan are installed together in the innerspace of the drawer. In this case, when the user draws out the drawer toreplace or clean the filter, there is a difficulty that a relativelyheavy driving fan has to be also drawn out together with the drawer.

Meanwhile, in recent years, a humidifying air purifier has beendeveloped which adds a humidification function to the air purifier.

With respect to such a humidifying air purifier, the following relatedart document 3 is disclosed.

1. Japanese Patent Registration Number (Registration Date): JP No.5,842,962 (Nov. 27, 2015)

2. Title of invention: Air purifier

According to the related art document 3 as described above, thefollowing problems may exist.

First, in the air purifier of the related art document 3, the airblower, the air purifying filter, and the humidifying unit are stackedfrom the lower portion of the air purifier toward the upper portionthereof in the vertical direction. The air purifying filter and thehumidifying unit are components that the user needs to periodicallyclean or replace, and according to the above structure, it istroublesome and difficult to separate the air purifying filter or thehumidifying unit.

Second, since the humidifying unit is disposed above the air blower andthe air purifying filter, water present in the humidifying unit can bedropped and flow into the blower or the air purifying filter. In thiscase, the performance of the air blower or the air purifying filter maybe deteriorated or failure thereof may occur.

SUMMARY

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems and anobjective of the present invention is to provide a humidifying airpurifier which can easily provide access to the inner portion of thehumidifying air purifier by providing a door configured to open like apull-out drawer.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier in which a water container and a filter aredisposed on the door so that the user can easily access the watercontainer and the filter by drawing the drawer-type door out from thehumidifying air purifier once.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier capable of drawing in air from a lower frontportion of a cabinet to improve air intake performance.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier capable of improving the filtering performanceof air by installing an air filter on a back surface of the door so thatthe air being drawn into the humidifying air purifier can pass throughthe entire area of the air filter.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier capable of increasing user convenience byproviding a guide structure for mounting an air filter.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier provided with a humidifying filter on theoutlet side of the air filter configured to readily humidify thepurified air.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier in which an air blowing fan is secured to aninner portion of a cabinet, thereby making it difficult for a user toaccess the air blowing fan even when the door is opened, therebyensuring stability and safety.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier capable of utilizing an upper surface portionarea of the humidifying air purifier as a storage portion.

In addition, another objective of the present invention is to provide ahumidifying air purifier in which an outer appearance panel thereof ismade of wood material and may have aesthetics similar to furniture.

In order to accomplish the above objective, a humidifying air purifieraccording to an embodiment of the present invention includes adrawer-type door assembly which can be drawn out of the cabinet in aforward direction from a front side of the cabinet. Accordingly, accessto an inner portion of the cabinet can be easily provided by pulling outthe door assembly from the front side of the cabinet.

The door assembly includes a door in the form of a drawer whichaccommodates an air filter and a humidifying device. When the doorassembly is drawn out from the cabinet of the humidifying air purifierthe air filter and the humidifying device accommodated in the door maybe drawn out together.

In addition, the door assembly is installed and adapted to be drawn outof the cabinet or re-inserted into the cabinet. As one example, ahumidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes a cabinet in which a front surface opening is formed;a door assembly into which an air filter assembly and a humidifyingfilter assembly positioned behind the air filter assembly are inserted;and a rail assembly which connects the door assembly with the cabinet sothe door assembly can be drawn out of the front surface opening of thecabinet along the rail assembly or pushed back into the front surfaceopening of the cabinet along the same rail assembly.

The door assembly is formed with an intake through which air isintroduced into the cabinet.

The air filter and the humidifying device may be disposed such that theair sucked through the intake passes through the air filter and thehumidifying device in turn.

The intake, the air filter, and the humidifying device may besuccessively aligned in the front to rear direction of the door assemblyin an accommodation portion of the door assembly.

The intake may be formed on a bottom surface of the door.

In addition, the intake may be formed on a front surface of the doorpanel.

In addition, a recessed portion defined as a space between a lowerportion of the door assembly and a base may be provided, and the intakemay be positioned above the recessed portion. Therefore, the air whichhas flowed through the recessed portion can be drawn into the doorthrough the intake.

The air having passed through the intake may pass through an air filterwhich is seated in an air filter seating portion of the door. The airhaving passed through the air filter may pass through a humidifyingdevice including a humidifying filter.

The door may be configured such that the air filter seating portion anda water tub seating portion extend in a front and rear direction.

The water tub seating portion is recessed more than the air filterseating portion, and thus the installation position of the water tub canbe lowered.

The air filter may be supported by a door assembly.

The upper portion of the air filter is disposed obliquely forward tofacilitate attachment and detachment of the air filter. Thus, an upperportion of the air filter assembly is disposed to incline forwardly.

The door is provided with a guide structure for guiding the mounting ofthe air filter. Therefore, it is easy to attach and detach the airfilter to the correct position. It is also possible to prevent the airfilter from shaking. For example, a door side surface portion isprovided with a guide rib which contacts a mounting protrusion of theair filter, and the upper surface portion of the door is provided with amounting groove to which the insertion protrusion of the air filter iscoupled.

A centrifugal fan is installed on an outlet side of the humidifyingdevice.

The air blowing fan may be installed on the rear side of the humidifyingdevice, and the air passing through the air blowing fan may pass througha rear upper portion of the upper panel.

The cabinet may be formed of a plurality of panel assemblies and a base.

The base may include a first base, a base connecting portion extendingupward from a rear side of the first base, and a second base extendingrearward from the base connecting portion.

The panel assembly may include a side panel extending upward from bothsides of the base and an upper panel disposed on an upper side of theside panel.

A door panel that forms an outer appearance surface of the door may beprovided removably in front of the panel assembly. The door may becoupled to the door panel. There, the door is supported by the secondbase and is taken out of the inner portion of the panel assembly.

In another point of view, the humidifying air purifier according to theembodiment of the present invention can be formed into a furniture shapeso that the outer appearance of the humidifying air purifier canmaintain a sense of unity with the furniture used for indoor living.Accordingly, the outer appearance of the cabinet and the door assemblyremovably installed in the cabinet may be formed of wood material.

The cabinet may include a body frame opened forward and forming a basicbody, a side panel coupled to both side surfaces of the body frame, andan upper panel connecting the two side panels from above the side panel.

The body frame may include a bar defining an opening on the frontsurface.

The door assembly may include a drawer installed to be drawn out in theopening direction of the body frame.

The door assembly may further include a door panel which forms an outerappearance of a front surface of the drawer. The door panel may becoupled to the front surface of the drawer.

At least one of the door panel, the two side panels, and the upper panelmay be formed of wood material. Accordingly, it is possible to provide auniformly aesthetic appearance so that the user can recognize thehumidifying air purifier as one kind of indoor furniture.

In one embodiment of the humidifying air purifier formed of the woodmaterial, a plurality of grooves may be formed to prevent deformation,breakage, or the like of the wood material. As one example, at least oneof the door panel, the side panel, and the upper panel may be formedwith a wooden groove formed in a straight line on the inner surfacethereof.

In addition, in an embodiment of the humidifying air purifier formed ofthe wood material, metal for improving durability can be insertedtherein. As an example, at least one of the door panel, the side panel,and the upper panel may have a metal reinforcing frame inserted into theinner surface thereof.

The outer appearance of the humidifying air purifier may be provided toform a sense of unity. As one example, the door panel may have a sizecorresponding to an area defined by a front end of the upper panel andfront ends of the two side panels.

In addition, both side ends of the door panel can be in contact with theinner surfaces of the two side panels. Accordingly, the door assemblycan be completely formed as one body in a state where the door assemblyis drawn into the cabinet.

In another point of view, the humidifying air purifier according to theembodiment of the present invention may include a door assembly providedas a drawer-type door assembly mounted inside the cabinet. In otherwords, the door assembly is detachably provided in the cabinet and mayform a flow path for air.

Accordingly, in a case where the door assembly is completely drawn intothe cabinet, the door assembly and the open portion of the cabinet canprovide a sealing structure so that the incoming air can follow theintended flow path.

The humidifying air purifier of the present invention can provide adouble sealing structure with respect to air flow passing through theair purifier.

The humidifying air purifier may include a body frame having a firstside surface, a second side surface, and a bar coupled to front ends ofthe two side surfaces to define a front surface opening. In addition,the humidifying air purifier may include a first side panel coupled tothe first side surface and extending forwardly of the bar; and a secondside panel coupled to the second side surface and extending forwardly ofthe bar.

Also, a sealing frame, which is in contact or close contact with thefront surface of the bar and the side surfaces of the first side paneland the second side panel, is provided. A door panel for covering thefront surface opening is coupled to the front surface of the sealingframe.

In addition, a drawer provided to be drawn out of the front surfaceopening is coupled to the door panel.

A suction port (or intake) through which air is sucked may be formed onthe bottom surface of the drawer. The air filter assembly is installedin the drawer so as to be positioned on the rear side of the suctionport.

The sealing frame may be positioned below the upper end of the doorpanel.

The door panel may have a circumference larger than the circumference ofthe sealing frame.

The lower end portion of the sealing frame may be positioned below theintake or at both ends of the front area of the intake. A lower endportion of the sealing frame may form an incision space.

The sealing frame may include a first end portion and a second endportion which extend from the lower ends of both sides thereof to faceeach other. The space between the first end portion and the second endportion may communicate with the intake.

The first end portion and the second end portion may be spaced apartfrom each other in directions facing each other.

The bar of the body frame may be formed in a shape corresponding to thesealing frame.

The incision space formed by the lower end portion of the bar of thebody frame and the lower end portion of the sealing frame may form aportion of the intake.

The sealing frame may further include a sealing member inserted into thesealing frame.

In a case where the drawer is drawn into the body frame, the rearsurface of the sealing frame can be brought into close contact with thefront surface of the bar. In a case where the drawer is drawn into thebody frame, the side surface of the sealing frame may be in closecontact with the first side panel or the second side panel.

In addition, in a case where the drawer is drawn into the body frame, atleast two surfaces of the outer surfaces of the sealing frame may be inclose contact with at least one of the bar, the first side panel, andthe second side panel so as to seal the front surface opening.

In addition, the first side panel may be coupled to the outside of thefirst side surface, and the second side panel may be coupled to theoutside of the second side surface.

In addition, sliding rails may be installed on both lower ends of thebody frame. Rail guides for coupling with the sliding rail may beinstalled at both lower ends of the drawer.

The sliding rail may be positioned above the lower end portion of thebar of the body frame.

The lower end of the bar of the body frame and the lower end portion ofthe sealing frame may be in close contact with or separated from eachother in the front and rear direction.

The upper end of the door panel may be spaced forward from the front endof the upper panel to form a display groove. A display having an inputunit may be positioned in the display groove.

In another point of view, there is provided a humidifying air purifieraccording to an embodiment of the present invention in which a doorprovided to be capable of being drawn out or drawn into and a door panelinstalled in the door can be detachably provided in the cabinet.

A humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a cabinet having one opened surface; a drawercoupled to the one opened surface of the cabinet so as to be drawn outor drawn into (pushed into) the cabinet; and a door panel positioned onone opened surface of the cabinet.

The humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention may further include an intake formed on a bottom surface ofthe drawer, and an air filter and a humidifying filter accommodated inthe drawer and installed on a rear side of the intake.

The door panel may be movable from the cabinet along with the operationof drawing the drawer out.

The cabinet may be formed in a polygonal shape, and the door panel maybe disposed to form one surface of the cabinet.

The door panel may be detachably connected to the cabinet.

The humidifying filter may be positioned on the rear side of the airfilter.

The drawer forms a water storage space for storing water at the rearside of the air filter, and the humidifying filter may be positioned inthe water storage space.

In another point of view, the humidifying air purifier according to theembodiment of the present invention can suck air from the lower portionto perform air purification and air humidification, and then dischargethe air to the upper portion. Accordingly, the humidifying air purifiercan provide a structure for partitioning an air humidifying area inwhich water is used and an air purifying area in which water is to beprevented.

A humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a cabinet opened frontward; and a drawer installedto be drawn out of the cabinet and including an air filter, a water tub,and a humidifying filter, the drawer has a bottom surface forming a basesurface at a lower portion; both sides surfaces extending upward fromboth side ends of the bottom surface; and a front surface connecting thefront ends of the both side surfaces and extending upward to be higherthan the both side surfaces.

In addition, the drawer may further include a rear surface connectingthe rear ends of both side surfaces.

The bottom surface of the drawer may include a water tub seating surfaceon which the water tub is seated; an air filter seating surfacepositioned in front of the water tub seating surface and extending to aposition higher than the water tub seating surface to seat the airfilter; and an air intake defined as an opening between the air filterseating surface and the front surface.

The water tub may form a water storage space for storing water providedin the humidifying filter.

The air intake may have a width W1 in the left and right directionlarger than a width W2 in the front and rear direction.

The width W1 in the left and right direction may be provided to have asize correspond to a width of the air filter assembly in a lateraldirection.

The air intake may be formed as space which is cut from the front end ofthe air filter seating surface to the rear end of the front surface ofthe drawer.

The drawer may further include a rear support jaw extending upward froma rear end of the air filter seating surface.

The rear support jaw may extend upward from the water tub seatingsurface by a predetermined height H4. There, the predetermined height H4may be set to be larger than the vertical distance from the lowermostend to the uppermost end of the water tub. The rear support jaw cansupport the air filter from the rear side.

In another point of view, the humidifying air purifier can provide astructure capable of maximizing the intake area of air. In addition, thehumidifying air purifier can provide a configuration in which a user caneasily separate and install a configuration requiring maintenance.

Configurations requiring such management may include a water tub, an airfilter assembly, a water container, and a humidifying filter assembly.

The air filter assembly may be disposed diagonally inside the drawer.

In addition, the humidifying filter of the humidifying filter assemblymay be disposed diagonally inside the water tub.

A humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a cabinet having an opened front surface; and a doorassembly coupled to the cabinet so as to be drawn out or drawn into thecabinet, in which the door assembly includes a door bottom surfaceportion constituting a bottom surface and having an intake through whichair is sucked; a door front surface portion defining a front end of theintake and extending upward; and an air filter assembly disposed abovethe suction port to be inclined.

In addition, the air filter assembly may have a lower end positioned ata rear end of the intake, and an upper end positioned at an upper end ofthe door front surface portion.

Here, the length from the lower end to the upper end of the air filterassembly is longer than the length from the upper end of the door frontsurface portion to the front end of the intake and/or the length fromthe front end of the intake to the lower end of the air filter assembly.

In other words, the air filter assembly may have a length from the lowerend to the upper end which can be formed longer than any one of a firstlength from the front end to the rear end of the intake and a secondlength from the front end of the intake to the upper end of the doorfront surface portion.

In addition, the door assembly may include a door side surface portionextending rearward from both side ends of the door front surface portionand having a filter guide extending obliquely rearward from the upperend of the door front surface portion toward the door bottom surfaceportion; and a filter support extending in both directions from thefilter guide and supporting the air filter assembly in the frontdirection.

The filter support portion may define a first length H1 which is alength of a base, a second length H2 which is a length of an edge whichcontacts the door front surface portion, and a third length H3 which isa hypotenuse (or an edge) connecting the base and the edge, and thethird length H3 is longer than the second length H2 and the first lengthH1.

The filter guide extends obliquely rearward by a predetermined angle α1and can support both side surfaces of the air filter assembly.

The filter support portion may support both side portions of the frontsurface of the air filter assembly.

The filter support portion may extend to correspond to a vertical lengthof the air filter assembly.

The vertical length of the air filter assembly may correspond to thethird length H3.

The hypotenuse of the filter support portion can be inclined rearwardfrom the upper end to the lower end by the predetermined angle α1. Thepredetermined angle α1 may have an acute angle.

The first length H1 may correspond to the width of the intake.

The air filter assembly may include a filter case to which an air filteris coupled.

The upper surface of the filter case may be formed as an inclinedsurface inclined downward by an inclination angle β toward the rear endof the lower surface of the filter case.

The filter case may be formed in a rectangular shape with an inclinedside surface.

The filter case may define a first parallel line P1 which is a virtualstraight line drawn in an extending direction of an edge formed by theupper surface and the side surface of the filter case, a second parallelline P2 which is a virtual straight line drawn parallel to the firstparallel line P2 from a front end of an edge formed by the lower surfaceand the side surface of the filter case, and an inclined line P3 whichis a virtual straight line drawn along in an extending direction of anedge formed by the lower surface and the side surface of the filtercase. There, the inclined line P3 may have a predetermined inclinationangle β from the second parallel line P2.

The upper surface of the filter case may extend downward with respect tothe lower surface of the filter case to have the inclination angle β.

The lower surface of the filter case may extend upward with respect tothe upper surface of the filter case to have the inclination angle β.

The door bottom surface portion may include an air filter seatingportion on which the bottom surface of the air filter assembly isseated, and the air filter seating portion may be inclined upward towardthe rear end.

The air filter seating portion may extend to have the inclination angleβ.

The filter support portion and the air filter seating portion may beconnected at their side ends to have a “V” shape. A side lower end ofthe air filter assembly can be fitted to a point where the filtersupport portion and the filter seating portion are connected to eachother.

In another point of view, the humidifying air purifier according to theembodiment of the present invention can be provided so that the innerportion of the cabinet is not exposed to the user's gaze in a case wherethe door assembly drawn out of the cabinet is drawn out to the maximum.At the same time, the humidifying air purifier can be provided such thatthe management-requiring configurations described above are positionedin a space where the user can easily operate.

The humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention includes: a body frame having an opening formed in a frontsurface thereof; a drawer drawn out of the body frame and into which anair filter assembly and a humidifying filter assembly positioned behindthe air filter assembly are inserted; a rail guide coupled to both sidesurfaces of the drawer; and a sliding rail coupled to lower portions ofboth sides of the body frame and guiding the forward and rearwardmovement of the rail guide.

Here, in a case where the drawer is drawn out to the maximum, thehumidifying filter assembly is positioned on a flat surface formed bythe front end of the body frame.

Both side surfaces of the drawer may include an inner plate whichaccommodates the air filter assembly and the humidifying filterassembly; and an outer plate which is spaced apart from the outer sideof the inner plate. The rail guide is positioned in a space between theinner plate and the outer plate.

Both side surfaces of the drawer may further include a plurality ofreinforcing ribs extending from the inner plate to the outer plate.

The sliding rail or the rail guide may be provided with a stopper forlimiting the distance to which the drawer may be drawn out of thecabinet.

The body frame may include a bar which is coupled to the front endthereof, and a lower end of the bar may be provided with a rail holdingjaw protruding upward to limit the distance to which the sliding rail orthe rail guide may be drawn out of the cabinet.

The rail holding jaw may protrude perpendicular to an advancingdirection of the sliding rail or the rail guide.

The body frame may further include a rail cover positioned at the lowerportions of both sides of the body frame and surrounding the slidingrail.

The rail holding jaw may be spaced forward from the front end of therail cover.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of ahumidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a state where a door of the humidifyingair purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention isopened.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration ofthe humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration of aportion of the humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating a configuration of a door panel accordingto an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a configuration of a bottom surface of awater container according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ of FIG. 1.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state where an air filter and ahumidifying filter are disposed in a door according to an embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state where an air filter disposed in adoor according to an embodiment of the present invention is separated.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a construction of the dooraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a configuration for guiding mounting ofan air filter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of the dooraccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a view illustrating an internal structure of a cabinetaccording to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view illustrating a configuration of an airfilter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 15 is a sectional view illustrating air flow in a humidifying airpurifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of ahumidifying air purifier according to another embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating configurations of adoor and an air filter of the humidifying air purifier according toanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the presentdisclosure, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings.

In the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments,reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof,and in which is shown by way of illustration specific preferredembodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodimentsare described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art topractice the invention, and it is understood that other embodiments maybe utilized and that logical structural, mechanical, electrical, andchemical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scopeof the invention. To avoid detail not necessary to enable those skilledin the art to practice the invention, the description may omit certaininformation known to those skilled in the art. The following detaileddescription is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.

Also, in the description of embodiments, terms such as first, second, A,B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components ofthe present invention. Each of these terminologies is not used to definean essence, order or sequence of a corresponding component but usedmerely to distinguish the corresponding component from othercomponent(s).

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of ahumidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 2 is a view illustrating a door of the humidifyingair purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the humidifying air purifier 10according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a cabinet100 forming an outer appearance and a door assembly 200 coupled to thecabinet 100 to be capable of being drawn out from the cabinet.

The cabinet 100 includes a panel assembly composed of a plurality ofpanels.

The door assembly 200 can be taken out from the inner space formed bythe panel assembly. For example, the user may pull the door assembly 200out of the cabinet 100. The door assembly 200 may be taken out from theinside of the cabinet 100 in an outer direction due to the externalforce applied to the door assembly 200 by the user.

Of course, the user can insert the door assembly 200 back into thecabinet 100 by providing an external force in the opposite direction tothe door assembly 200.

The plurality of panels includes a lower first base 101, two side panels103 provided on both sides of the first base 101 and extending upward,an upper panel 105 coupled to an upper side of the two side panels 103,and a rear panel 107 coupled to a rear side of the two side panels 103.

By the first base 101, the two side panels 103, the upper panel 105, andthe rear panel 107, the cabinet 100 can have a shape of a rectangularparallelepiped which is opened frontward.

In addition, the side panels 103 on both sides may include a first sidepanel which forms one side surface of the cabinet 100 and a second sidepanel which forms the other side of the cabinet 100.

The plurality of panels may be made of wood material. Therefore, thehumidifying air purifier 1 can have the aesthetic appearance offurniture. In other words, the appearance can be enhanced.

An air filter assembly 280, a humidifying filter assembly 300, and anair blowing fan 480 (see FIG. 7) may be disposed in the internal spaceof the cabinet 100.

The door assembly 200 may be opened by being drawn out to the front sideof the cabinet 100 or closed by being drawn into the cabinet toward therear side of the cabinet 100. The door assembly 200 includes a doorpanel 210 constituting a front surface portion of the humidifying airpurifier 10. The door panel 210 may be referred to as “a front panel”.

The door panel 210 may be positioned on one surface of the cabinet 100.For example, the door panel 210 may be positioned at a front surfaceopening of the cabinet 100. Therefore, the door panel 210 may form afront surface of the cabinet 100. Accordingly, the door panel 210 andthe cabinet 100 can provide a sense of unity to the user.

The door panel 210 may be movable from the cabinet 100. For example, thedoor panel 210 may be spaced apart from the cabinet 100 by a drawer 220drawn out of the front surface of the cabinet 100.

The door panel 210 may have a shape of a square plate. In a state wherethe door assembly 200 is closed, the door panel 210 forms a frontsurface of an outer appearance of the humidifying air purifier 10. Inaddition, the door panel 210 is made of wood material so that it canhave a similar aesthetic appearance to furniture.

A recessed portion 30 may be formed between the lower end of the doorpanel 210 and the first base 101 to form a space recessed rearward.

An air intake 225 for sucking air into the cabinet 100 may be formed onthe recessed portion 30.

Hereinafter, the air intake 225 may be referred to as an intake 225. Forexample, the intake 225 may be formed on the bottom surface of thedrawer 220.

The recessed portion 30 may be defined as a space between the first base101 and the intake 225 formed below the door panel 210.

In addition, the recessed portion 30 may be defined as a space in whichan opening defined by a lower edge of the door panel 210 and a firstbase 101 positioned below the lower edge extends rearward to a baseextending portion 115.

The upper panel 105 of the cabinet 100 is formed with a dischargeportion 109 through which purified air is discharged. The dischargeportion 109 may be positioned on the rear side of the upper panel 105.

The discharge portion 109 may be formed in a flat surface with the upperpanel 105. For example, the upper end of the discharge portion 109 maybe formed at the same height as the upper end of the upper panel 105.

The door assembly 200 further includes a drawer 220 extending rearwardfrom a rear surface of the door panel 210.

Cleaning components of the humidifying air purifier 10 are installed inthe drawer 220. The cleaning components may include an air filterassembly 280 and a humidifying device. The humidifying device mayinclude a humidifying filter assembly 300, a water tub 260, and a watercontainer 270.

When the door assembly 200 is drawn out to the front side to open thefront surface of the cabinet 100, the air filter assembly 280, thehumidifying filter assembly 300, and the water container 270 disposed inthe drawer 220 can be drawn out forward together. Accordingly, the usercan easily access the air filter assembly 280, the humidifying filterassembly 300, and the water container 270.

The drawer 220 may be coupled to the cabinet 100 so as to be drawn outfrom the cabinet 100 or drawn back into the cabinet. Accordingly, thedrawer 220 may be referred to as “door” or “accommodation portion”.

The door assembly 200 further includes rail guides 230 for guiding theoperation of drawing the door assembly 200 out or into the cabinet 100.The rail guides 230 may be coupled to both sides of the lower portion ofthe drawer 220.

In other words, the door assembly 200 is provided to be movable in thefront and rear direction from the cabinet 100. Accordingly, the doorassembly 200 may be provided so as to be in close contact with the frontend portion of the cabinet 100 in a state where the door assembly 200 isdrawn into the cabinet.

In detail, the door assembly 200 may include sealing means for sealingthe opened front surface of the cabinet 100. The sealing means mayinclude a sealing frame 211 and a sealing member 212, which will bedescribed later.

The sealing means may seal a minute gap formed between the cabinet 100and the door assembly 200. Therefore, the outside air can intensivelyflow into the recessed portion 30 or the intake 225.

A display 108 a on which the operation information of the air purifieris displayed is disposed in front of the upper panel 105. The display108 a may extend in the left and right direction to be lengthened andmay be provided on the upper surface of the front portion of the displaymodule 452 to be described later. In addition, the display 108 a may beprovided with an input unit 108 b capable of inputting by a user.

A plurality of the input units 108 b may be provided to set an operationmode or an operation function of the air purifier 10. For example, theinput unit 108 b may include a plurality of the input units so as toperform set modes (or functions) such as “power input unit”, “cleanintensity”, “rapid clean”, “humidification clean”, “sleep mode”, “airsterilization”, “mode illumination”, and “locking”.

The display 108 a may be positioned between the upper panel 105 and thedoor 200. In detail, a display groove 108, which is downwardly recessed,is formed on the upper portion of the cabinet 100. For example, theupper end of the door panel 210 may be spaced forward from the front endof the upper panel 105. In addition, the display groove 108 may bedefined as a space formed in between the door panel 210 and the upperpanel 105.

Therefore, the display 108 a is exposed to the outside through thedisplay groove 108, so that the user can confirm the operationinformation or operate the input unit 108 b.

The upper panel 105 is configured to be flat so that the user canutilize the upper panel 105 as a storage space. Goods, food, and thelike are placed on the storage space. Therefore, it may not be easy todispose a display on the upper panel that the user should visuallyconfirm. If the display is disposed at the central portion of the upperpanel, the display may be blocked by the object or the food.

In the present embodiment, so as to prevent such a problem, the display108 a may be positioned between a front surface of the upper panel 105and a rear surface of the door. Then the door 200 is drawn outfrontward, the front surface of the display 108 a may be exposed to theoutside.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a configuration ofthe humidifying air purifier according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view illustrating aconfiguration of a portion of the humidifying air purifier according toan embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 5 is a view illustrating aconfiguration of a door panel according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 6 is a view illustrating a configuration of a bottomsurface of a water container according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI′ ofFIG. 1.

Referring to FIG. 3 to FIG. 7, a humidifying air purifier 10 accordingto an embodiment of the present invention includes an air filterassembly 280 for filtering air, a humidifying filter assembly 300 forhumidifying air, and an air blowing fan 480 for generating an air flow.A fan motor 485 is coupled to the air blowing fan 480.

In detail, the cabinet 100 includes a body frame 110 forming a spaceportion 112 in which the above-described components are disposed.

The body frame 110 may have a hexahedron shape in which front, rear, andupper surfaces are opened. In detail, the front surface of the bodyframe 110 is opened, and the opened front surface can be shielded by thedoor assembly 200. In addition, the rear surface of the body frame 110is opened, and the opened rear surface can be shielded by a fan housing410 and a housing cover 430. In addition, the upper surface of the bodyframe 110 is opened, and the opened upper surface may be shielded by anelectric unit 450.

The first base 101 can be understood as a constituent portion of thebody frame 110.

The two side panels 103 are coupled to both sides of the body frame 110.In other words, the body frame 100 may include a first side surfacewhich is one side surface and a second side surface which is the otherside surface.

One side panel 103 of the two side panels 103 may be coupled to thefirst side surface. In addition, the other side panel 103 of the twoside panels 103 may be coupled to the second side surface. There, theside panel 103 coupled to the first side surface is referred to as afirst side panel 103, and the side panel 103 coupled to the second sidesurface is referred to as a second side panel 103.

The upper panel 105 is coupled to the upper side of the electric unit450 and the rear panel 107 is coupled to the rear side of the housingcover 430.

Meanwhile, as described above, at least one of the door panel, the firstside panel, the second side panel, and the upper panel may be formed ofwood material.

Accordingly, the plurality of panels 103, 105, and 107 may includegrooves 210 b which are formed by cutting into the inner surfaces of therespective panels 103, 105, and 107 with relatively small widths anddepths to prevent deformation of the wood material and enhancedurability, and a plurality of reinforcing frames 215 inserted into theinner surfaces of the panels 103, 105, and 107.

The wooden grooves 210 b may be elongated along the extending directionof the panel, and may be formed in a plurality of the grooves. Forexample, the wooden grooves 210 b may be engraved on at least one of theplurality of panels 103, 105, and 107 in a straight line in thelongitudinal direction of the inner surface.

The reinforcing frame 215 may have holes 215 a for fastening to aconfigurations for coupling to the plurality of panels. For example, afastening member to be fastened to the front surface 221 of the drawermay be inserted into the hole 215 a of the reinforcing frame 215inserted into the door panel 210. In addition, the reinforcing frame 215may be formed of a metal material.

The first and second side panels 103 coupled to both side surfaces ofthe body frame 110 may extend forward of the bar 110 a defining thefront surface opening of the body frame 110.

The inner surface of each of the first and second side panels 103positioned forward of the bar 110 a of the body frame may be in closecontact with the outer surface of the sealing frame 211. Accordingly, atleast two of the outer surfaces of the sealing frame 211 may be in closecontact with the cabinet 100 so that the door assembly 200 may beprovided with a double sealing structure excluding the intake 225 in astate of being drawn thereinto.

The bar 110 a of the body frame 110 may be formed as a rectangular frameso as to define a front surface opening of the body frame 110.

However, the bar 110 a of the body frame may be cut by a predeterminedlength to form a space between the body frame and the door assembly inorder to avoid any interference occurring when the door assembly 200 isdrawn out or into the cabinet 100.

Here, the predetermined length may be defined as a length correspondingto the gap D1 of the sealing frame 211 to be described later. Forexample, the bar 110 a of the body frame may be provided in arectangular shape having an opened base.

The bar 110 a of the body frame 110 may extend along the front ends ofboth side surfaces of the body frame 110. The bar 110 a may extend fromthe lower side of the display module 452 to connect upper ends of bothside surfaces of the body frame 110.

The lower end portion 110 b of the bar 110 a of the body frame may bebent in directions facing each other from the front ends of both sidesurfaces of the body frame 110. There, the lower end portion 110 b ofthe bar 110 a may be cut so as not to interfere with the drawer 220.

In other words, the lower end portion 110 b of the bar 110 a of the bodyframe, which extend from both side surfaces of the body frame 110,respectively, may extend to be spaced apart from each other by apredetermined length in directions facing each other.

In addition, the bar 110 a of the body frame and the sealing means areprovided so as to be in close contact with each other when the doorassembly 200 is drawn into. Therefore, the bar 110 a of the body frameand the sealing means can be formed to correspond to each other.

As a result, the sealing means provided on the rear side of the doorpanel 210 can be in close contact with the bar 110 a and the surfaces ofthe first and second side panels 103 extending to protrude forward fromthe bar 110 a.

Therefore, the sealing means can seal the gap between the cabinet 100and the door assembly 200 with two vertical surfaces. Accordingly, theinflow of air into the gap can be more effectively blocked.

On both side surfaces of the body frame 110, a plurality of reinforcingribs 111 a and 111 b may be provided. The reinforcing ribs 111 a and 111b includes plurality of first reinforcing ribs 111 a extending in thelateral direction and a plurality of second reinforcing ribs 111 bextending in the direction intersecting the first reinforcing ribs 111a. For example, the second reinforcing rib 111 b may extend in thelongitudinal direction.

In addition, on both side surfaces of the body frame 110, a drainageflow path 111 c for guiding the fluid drained from the electric unit 450downwardly may be formed. The drainage flow path 111 c can be understoodas a flow path formed between the first and second reinforcing ribs 111a and 111 b.

The door assembly 200 includes a door panel 210 forming an outerappearance of a front surface and a drawer 220 extending to the rearside of the door panel 210.

The width of the door panel 210 in the side direction may be set smallerthan the distance between the two side panels 103. Accordingly, the doorpanel 210 may be inserted between the two side panels 103 to form a flatsurface. According to this, the door panel 210 and the two side panels103 can provide a sense of unity of the outer appearance to the user, sothat the door panel 210 and the two side panels 103 are visually cleanand can provide an outer appearance suitable for recognition asfurniture.

The door panel 210 may include a handle groove 210 a formed by beingrecessed at an upper portion of a rear surface of the door panel 210 soas to be held by the user. Accordingly, the user can draw out the doorassembly 200 while pulling his/her hand through the handle groove 210 aby putting his/her hand into the display groove 108.

The door panel 210 may further include a panel frame 218 for guiding thecoupling with the front surface of the drawer 220.

The panel frame 218 may be coupled to the rear surface of the door panel210. The panel frame 218 may be positioned inside the sealing frame 211to be described later. For example, the panel frame 218 may be coupledto the panel coupling portion 221 a to be described later by a fasteningmember.

Meanwhile, as described above, the door assembly 200 may further includesealing means. The sealing means may include a sealing frame 211 and asealing member 212.

In detail, the sealing frame 211 may be coupled to the rear surface ofthe door panel 210. The sealing frame 211 may be formed to correspond tothe bar 110 a of the body frame 110. For example, the sealing frame 211may have a rectangular shape with an opened base.

In other words, the lower portion of the sealing frame 211 may be cut bya predetermined length D1. For example, the lower portion of the sealingframe 211 may form an opening communicating with the intake 225.Accordingly, the lower end portions 211 a and 211 b of the sealing frame211 can be spaced apart by the predetermined length D1 in directionsfacing to each other.

The lower end portions 211 a and 211 b of the sealing frame 211 may bepositioned below the intake 225 or at both side ends of the frontportion of the intake 225. In detail, the lower end portions 211 a and211 b may form an incision space (or a sealing frame gap) communicatingwith the intake 225 together with the lower end portion 110 b of the bar110 a.

The incision space (or the sealing frame gap in between lower endportions 211 a and 211 b) is in flow communication with a portion 255 aof the intake 225. For example, when the lower end portions 211 a and211 b and the lower end portion 110 b are in close contact with eachother, the incision space (or the sealing frame gap) may define bothfront ends of the inlet 225. Accordingly, the air sucked from the lowerend of the door panel 210 can intensively flow into the incision space.

Specifically, the lower end of the sealing frame 211 may include a firstend portion 211 a which is bent perpendicularly at one lower end and asecond end portion 211 b which is vertically bent at the other lowerend. The first end portion 211 a and the second end portion 211 b mayextend horizontally and may be spaced apart by the predetermined lengthD1.

The predetermined length D1 may be referred to as a lower gap D1 of thesealing frame 211.

Since the lower end portions 211 a and 211 b of the sealing frame 211are spaced apart from each other by the lower gap D1, the sealing framegap between the first end portion 211 a and the second end portion 211b, may form a portion 225 p of the intake 225.

Accordingly, in a case where the door assembly is drawn into the bodyframe 110 and the sealing frame 211 and the bar 110 a of the body frameare in contact with each other, the lower end portions 211 a and 211 bof the sealing frame 211 and the lower end portion 110 b of the bar 110a of the body frame are cut and opened downward to form a portion 225 pof the suction port 255 so that the intake cross-sectional area of theair can be expanded.

Meanwhile, the lower gap D1 can be understood as a length correspondingto the width W1 of the air intake 225 in the left and right direction tobe described later.

The outer circumferential length of the sealing frame 211 may be smallerthan the circumferential length of the door panel 210. The outercircumferential length of the sealing frame 211 and the bar 110 a of thebody frame may be the same.

In addition, the circumferential length of the door panel 210 may besmaller than the front circumferential length of the cabinet 100. Theupper edge of the door panel 210 may be disposed at a heightcorresponding to the upper edge of the front end of the cabinet 100.Therefore, a recessed space or recessed portion 30 is formed on thelower side of the door panel 210 to guide the inflow of air.

Meanwhile the width D2 of the sealing frame 211 may be set to a lengthcorresponding to the length of the first and second side panels 103protruding forward from the bar 110 a.

Therefore, the sealing frame 211 is in close contact with the first andsecond side panels 103 and the bar 110 a of the body frame, therebyreducing unnecessary flow loss and noise. The sealing frame 211 mayconcentrate the intake of the air to the recessed portion 30 or theintake 225.

In other words, in a case where the drawer 220 is drawn into the bodyframe 110, the front surface of the bar 110 a defining the front surfaceopening of the body frame 110 and the front surface of the sealing frame211 can be in close contact with each other. At this time, the outersurface of the sealing frame 211 may be in close contact with the firstside panel 103 or the second side panel 103.

In short, at least two of the outer surfaces of the sealing frame 211can be in close contact with at least one of the bar 110 a, the firstside panel 103 and the second side panel to seal the front surfaceopening.

Accordingly, double sealing between the sealing frame 211 and the bodyframe 110 is possible so that the flow of the air introduced into theintake 225 can be effectively guided to the air filter assembly 280without leakage or loss.

Meanwhile, the sealing frame 211 may form a central groove into whichthe sealing member 212 is inserted. The central groove may be formed byrecessing the central portion of the rear surface of the sealing frame211. The central groove may extend in the extending direction of thesealing frame 211.

The sealing member 212 may be inserted into the rear surface of thesealing frame 211. In other words, the sealing member 212 can beinserted into the center groove of the sealing frame 211.

The sealing member 212 may be formed of a material capable ofmaintaining airtightness when the sealing member 212 is in close contactwith the bar 110 a of the body frame. For example, the sealing member212 may include rubber.

The door panel 210 may further include a cover frame 211 c which is inclose contact with a filter cover 282 a provided on the upper portion ofthe air filter assembly 280.

The cover frame 211 c may be connected to an upper portion forming anupper side of the sealing frame 211. For example, cover frame 211 c mayextend roundly downward from the upper side of the sealing frame 211 ofthe cover frame 211 c.

The rear surface of the cover frame 211 c may be formed to correspond tothe front surface of the filter cover 282 a. For example, if the frontsurface of the filter cover 282 a is formed in a round shape, the rearsurface of the cover frame 211 c may be formed into a correspondinground shape.

Therefore, when the door assembly 200 is drawn into the cabinet 100, thecover frame 211 c is brought into close contact with the filter cover282 a, so that the air sucked into the intake 225 can be guided to passthrough the air filter 285 without loss or leakage.

The front surface 221 of the drawer 220 may be coupled to the rearsurface of the door panel 210. In other words, the door panel 210 maycover the front surface opening of the body frame 110.

Meanwhile, the front surface 221 of the drawer may be referred to as adoor front surface portion 221 or “first wall” of the drawer. Inaddition, the door panel 210 and the door front surface portion 221together may be referred to as “door front surface portion”.

The door front surface portion 221 may be provided with a panel couplingportion 221 a coupled to a rear surface of the door panel 210. Forexample, the panel coupling portion 221 a is recessed rearward from thedoor surface portion 221 and the fastening member is coupled to thepanel coupling portion 221 a so that the panel coupling portion 221 acan be fastened to the panel frame 218 of the door panel 210.

The drawer 220 may further include a connector 221 b extending from arear surface of the door front surface portion 221 to a front surface ofthe air filter seating portion 226.

In other words, the connector 221 b may be positioned in a space betweenthe door front surface portion 221 and the air filter seating portion226, which is defined as the intake 225.

The connector 221 b may be positioned at a lower portion of the rearsurface of the door front surface portion 221. The connector 221 b maybe positioned above the intake 225. For example, the connector 221 b mayextend rearward to have a relatively thin width so as to minimize theresistance of air flowing from the rear surface of the door frontsurface portion 221 to the intake 225.

The connector 221 b can support the door front surface portion 221relatively weak in impact due to the position of the intake 225.Therefore, the connector 221 b can prevent the deformation of the doorfront surface portion 221, thereby improving the durability of thedrawer 220.

The drawer 220 further includes a door side surface portion 222extending rearward from both sides of the door front surface portion221, a door lower surface portion 224 provided below the door sidesurface portion 222, and a door rear surface portion 223 extendingupward from the rear side of the door lower surface portion 224.

Meanwhile, the door side surface portion 222 may be referred to as aside surface of the drawer 220 or “second wall” of the drawer. The doorlower surface portion 224 may be referred to as a bottom surface of thedrawer 200 or “third wall” of the drawer. Likewise, the door rearsurface portion 223 may be referred to as the rear wall of the drawer or“fourth wall” of the drawer.

The intake 225 may be formed in the lower surface portion 224 of thedoor.

In addition, an installation space in which a water tub 260, a watercontainer 270, and a humidifying filter assembly 300 are installed canbe defined in the drawer 220, by the door front surface portion 221, thedoor lower surface portion 224, the door side surface portion 222, andthe door rear surface portion 223.

For example, the air filter assembly 280 may be installed at a frontportion of the drawer 220. The air filter assembly 280 may include anair filter case 281 and an air filter 285 coupled to the air filter case281. The air filter assembly 280 may be disposed to be lifted upward andseparated.

A water container 270 may be disposed at a substantially central portionof the drawer 220, that is, on the rear side of the air filter assembly280, with respect to the front and rear direction.

The water container 270 may be installed inside the water tub 260. Thewater container 270 can be arranged to be lifted upward and separatedfrom the water tub 260 and the user can separate the water container 270to replenish water or clean the water container 270. In addition, anopenable water container lid 271 may be provided on the water container270.

A valve hole 272 b for discharging water and a valve device 276 forselectively opening and closing the valve hole 272 b may be provided onthe bottom surface 272 of the water container 270.

The bottom surface 272 of the water container 270 may further include avalve bracket 273 protruding to surround the valve device 276. The valvebracket 273 may be radially spaced about the valve device 276 to protectthe valve device 276. For example, the valve bracket 273 may have acylindrical shape protruding downward from the bottom surface 272.

The bottom surface 272 of the water container 270 may be formed with acoupling space 272 a through which the valve bracket 273 and the valvedevice 276 are coupled with a float device 267 to be described later.For example, the coupling space 272 a may be formed as a recessed space.

The valve device 276 can open the valve hole 275 a when the watercontainer 270 is placed on the water container support portion 261provided in the water tub 260 and the valve device 276 can close thevalve hole 275 a when the water container 270 is separated from thewater container support portion 261.

The water tub 260 may have a substantially hexahedral shape with anopened upper portion. The water container support portion 261 forsupporting the water container 270 is included in the lower portion ofthe water tub 260. The water container support portion 261 forms a flatsurface.

The water tub 260 further includes a float accommodating portion 262protruding downward from the water container support portion 261 andhaving a space in which the float device 267 is installed. The floataccommodating portion 262 may have a hollow shape with an emptyinterior. For example, the float accommodating portion 262 may bepositioned at a substantially central portion of the water containersupport portion 261.

The float accommodating portion 262 forms a first water storage portion229 a in which water is stored and the float device 267 can be providedto be moved in the up and down direction according to the water levelstored in the first water storage portion 229 a. At this time, when thewater level of the first water storage portion 229 a becomes equal to orhigher than the set water level, the float device 267 can move upward toclose the valve hole 275 a of the water container 270.

A second water storage portion 229 b extending rearward from the floataccommodating portion 262 and storing water may be formed in the watertub 260. The second water storage portion 229 b communicates with thefirst water storage portion and may form the same water level as thefirst water storage portion.

The humidifying filter assembly 300 may be installed in the second waterstorage portion 229 b. The humidifying filter assembly 300 may beaccommodated in a rear portion of the inner space of the drawer 220. Thehumidifying filter assembly 300 may be disposed on the rear side of thewater container 270.

The humidifying filter assembly 300 includes a humidifying filter case310 and a humidifying filter 330 that is rotatably supported by thehumidifying filter case 310 and absorbs water stored in the water tub260.

The humidifying filter 300 includes a circular humidifying filter frame331 and a filter medium 332 disposed inside the humidifying filter frame331 and having a circular shape.

The lower portion of the humidifying filter 330 may be disposed to besubmerged in the second water storage portion 229 b.

The humidifying filter 330 has a substantially circular shape and theouter circumferential portion of the humidifying filter 330 includes acollecting rib 331 a having a structure capable of holding water. Thecollecting rib 331 a may be provided inside the humidifying filter frame331 and extend in the radial direction. A plurality of collecting ribs331 a are provided, and a space between the plurality of collecting ribs331 a forms a water storage space. The humidifying filter 330 and thehumidifying filter frame 331 may have a structure similar to that of awater-wheel.

When the humidifying filter 330 is rotatably provided, the watercollected by the collecting rib 331 a moves upward. And, the water flowsto the central portion of the humidifying filter 330 by gravity. Thehumidifying filter 330 may be made of a cloth, a felt, or a spongematerial that can easily absorb water.

A sterilizing device 269 for irradiating light toward the inside of thewater tub 260 may be disposed on the rear side of the water tub 260 soas to sterilize the water stored in the water tub 260. For example, thesterilizing device 269 may include an ultraviolet LED.

The humidifying air purifier 10 further includes a housing assembly 400disposed inside the cabinet 100. The housing assembly 400 may bedisposed on the rear side of the door assembly 200. In other words, thehousing assembly 400 is disposed on the rear side of the rear portion223 of the drawer 220.

In detail, the housing assembly 400 is provided with an air blowing fan480 for generating an air flow, a fan housing 410 having a fan intake415 disposed in front of the air blowing fan 480 and sucking airtherein, and a housing cover 430 coupled to the rear side of the fanhousing 410. The air blowing fan 480 may be installed in a faninstallation space defined by the fan housing 410 and the housing cover430.

The air blowing fan 480 includes a centrifugal fan which sucks air in anaxial direction and discharges the air in a radial direction. Forexample, the centrifugal fan may include a sirocco fan. The axialdirection of the air blowing fan 480 may be a front and rear direction.The fan motor 485 connected to the air blowing fan 480 is supported atthe central portion of the fan housing 410 and can be axially coupled tothe center of the air blowing fan 480.

The fan housing 410 includes a fan intake 415 (see FIG. 13). The fanintake 415 may include an intake guide rib extending radially orcircumferentially. By the suction guide rib, the user's hand can beprevented from being introduced into the air blowing fan 480.

The humidifying air purifier 10 further includes an electric unit 450having a plurality of electric components. The electric unit 450 furtherincludes an electric plate 451 covering the opened upper portion of thebody frame 110 and the electric component 453 may be installed on theupper surface of the electric component plate 451.

In other words, the cabinets 100 include an air conditioning space inwhich an air filter 285 and the air blowing fan 480 are installed, andan electric space in which electric components are installed. The airconditioning space and the electric space are vertically partitioned bythe electric plate 451. In other words, the electric space may bepositioned above the electric plate 451, and the air conditioning spacemay be positioned below the electric plate 451.

The electric plate 451 may extend forward from the upper portion of thehousing assembly 400. The upper panel 105 is coupled to the upper sideof the electric plate 451 to protect the electric component 453.

The electric unit may further include a display module 452 having thedisplay 108 a. The display module 452 may be disposed at a front portionof the electric plate 451. The display 108 a may be exposed to theoutside through the display groove 108.

Inside the body frame 110, a sliding rail 235 may be installed to guidethe operation of drawing the door assembly 200 out and into.

The sliding rails 235 may be disposed on both sides of the lower portionof the body frame 110. The sliding rail may be positioned above thelower end portion 110 b of the bar 110 a.

Accordingly, since the lower end portion 110 b of the bar 110 a and thelower end portions 211 a and 211 b of the sealing frame 211 are closelycontacted with each other in the front and rear directions, it ispossible to seal the gap (or space) which is formed by the sliding rail235 and the rail guide 230. Accordingly, it is possible to effectivelyguide the flow of the air flowing into the intake 225.

The sliding rail 235 may include a body coupling portion 235 a coupledto an inner surface of the body frame 110.

A rail cover 236 is disposed outside the sliding rail 235. By the railcover 236, the sliding rail 235 may not be exposed to the outside.

On both side surfaces of the door assembly 200, a rail guide 230 isprovided. The rail guide 230 is coupled to the sliding rail 235 to becapable of being drawn out of or drawn into the sliding rail 235 and canbe slid forward and rearward.

In addition, the rail guide 230 or the sliding rail 235 may include astopper for limiting the forward and rearward travel distance.

In a case where the drawer 220 is drawn out to a maximum extent, thehumidifying filter assembly 300 may be positioned on a flat surfaceformed by the front surface opening of the body frame 110.

In other words, the stopper can set the maximum distance to which thedrawer 220 can be drawn out of the cabinet. The stopper may determinethe maximum distance to which the drawer 220 can be drawn out of thecabinet according to the position of the humidifying filter assembly300.

The body frame 110 further includes an illumination bracket 116 on whicha lighting device is installed. The illumination bracket 116 may bedisposed below the body frame 110 and may be spaced apart from the firstbase 101. The illumination bracket 116 may be disposed to face the firstbase 101.

The body frame 110 further includes a base connecting portion 115extending upward from the first base 101.

It can be understood that the base connecting portion 115 extendsdownward from the rear portion of the illumination bracket 116 towardthe first base 101.

The recessed portion 30 may form a space between the first base 101 andthe illumination bracket 116. The base connecting portion 115 may shieldthe rear side of the recessed portion 30.

In addition, as described above, the recessed portion 30 can beunderstood as a space defined by the first base 101, the base connectingportion 115, and the illumination bracket 116.

The body frame 110 further includes a second base 113 extending rearwardfrom the base connecting portion 115 and supporting the drawer 220. Thesecond base 113 forms a flat surface and can support the door lowersurface portion 224 of the drawer 220. The first and second bases 101and 113 may be collectively be referred to as “bases”.

The body frame 110 may have a configuration which is stepped upward fromthe front portion toward the rear side, by the configuration of thefirst base 101, the base connecting portion 115 and the second base 113.Since the door assembly 200 is supported by the second base 113 and isdrawn out or drawn into the cabinet 100, the lower portion of the doorassembly 200 is spaced upward from the first base 101, and the spaceconstitutes a recessed portion 30 and thus can communicate with theintake 225.

The illumination device includes an illumination PCB 122 having anillumination source 122 a and an illumination case 124 coupled to theillumination PCB 122. A plurality of the illumination sources 122 a maybe provided, and the plurality of illumination sources 122 a may bearranged in the left and right direction.

The illumination case 124 includes a partitioning rib 124 b whichpartitions an inner space of the illumination case 124 into a pluralityof spaces 124 a, and illumination sources 122 a may be disposed in theplurality of spaces 124 a, respectively. The illumination source 122 amay be coupled to one surface of the illumination PCB 122 and configuredto emit light downward. For example, the illumination source 122 a maybe installed on a bottom surface or a front surface of the illuminationPCB 122.

A reflection plate 120 may be provided on the upper surface of the firstbase 101. The reflection plate 120 is positioned below the plurality ofillumination sources 122 a and may be provided to gently reflect ordiffuse light emitted from the illumination source 122 a. Theillumination source 122 a is disposed on the upper side of thereflection plate 120 and irradiates light toward the reflection plate120 downward. The recessed portion 30 may be formed between theillumination source and the reflection plate 120.

According to the light irradiated by the illumination source 122 a, thehumidifying air purifier 1 can provide a gentle light to a region wherethe recessed portion 30 or the air intake 225 is positioned. Therefore.The illumination device may also be referred to as mood illumination.

A human body detection sensor may be installed on the front surface ofthe illumination case 124. The human body detection sensor can sense ahuman body approaching in a direction of the door panel 210. Forexample, when the human body detection sensor senses a human bodyapproaching the humidifying air purifier 1, the illumination device canbe operated to adjust the brightness of the illumination source 122 a.

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating a state where an air filter and ahumidifying filter are disposed on a door according to an embodiment ofthe present invention, FIG. 9 is a view illustrating a state where anair filter disposed in a door according to an embodiment of the presentinvention is separated FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating aconstruction of a door according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 11 is a view illustrating a configuration for guidingthe mounting of an air filter according to an embodiment of the presentinvention, FIG. 12 is a plan view illustrating a configuration of thedoor according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 13 isa view illustrating an internal structure of a cabinet according to anembodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8 to FIG. 13, the door assembly 200 includes a drawer220 coupled to the rear side of the door panel 210, as described above.

The drawer 220 may be provided to be drawn out of the cabinet in aforward direction and drawn into the cabinet in a rearward direction. Inother words, the drawer 220 may be provided in a similar configurationto a drawer of furniture.

The drawer 220 may include an air filter assembly 280, a humidifyingfilter assembly 300, a water container 270, and a water tub 260.

As described above, the drawer 220 is provided with a front surface 221,both side surfaces 222 extending rearward from both side ends of thefront surface 221, a bottom surface 224 extending to be connected to thelower end portion of the both side surface 222 and forms a space 225spaced in the front and rear direction together with the front surface2221, and a rear surface 223 connecting the rear end of the bottomsurface 224 and the rear end of the both side surfaces 222.

The both side surfaces 222 may extend to be inclined so that the heightdecreases toward the rear side. The rear end of the both side surfaces222 and the rear surface 223 may extend upward to be lower than theheight of the front surface 221.

As described above, the bottom surface 224 of the drawer forming thebase surface at the lower portion of the drawer 220 may be referred toas a door lower surface portion 224.

Also, the front surface 221 of the drawer may be referred to as a doorfront surface portion 221.

The door lower surface portion 224 is formed with an intake 225 throughwhich air is sucked. The intake 225 may be positioned on the rear sideof the door front surface portion 221. For example, the intake 225 maybe formed through at least a portion of the door lower surface portion224.

The intake 225 may have a width W1 in the left and right directionlarger than a width W2 in the front and rear direction. The width W1 inthe left and right direction may have a size corresponding to the widthof the air filter assembly 280 in the lateral direction.

The air outside the humidifying air purifier 10 can be sucked into theintake 225 via the recessed portion 30. Then, the sucked air flowsupward and can be purified while passing through the air filter 285.

The door lower surface portion 224 includes an air filter seatingportion 226 on which the air filter assembly 280 is seated.

The air filter seating portion 226 may be referred to as an air filterseating surface. The intake 225 may be defined as an opening formed fromthe front end of the air filter seating portion 226 to the front surface221 of the drawer 220.

The air filter seating portion 226 can be positioned on the rear side ofthe air intake 225. Since the bottom surface of the air filter assembly280 is seated on the air filter seating portion 226, the air filterseating portion 226 may be formed as a flat surface corresponding to thebottom surface of the assembly 280.

The air filter seating portion 226 may be provided with a jaw 226 a forsupporting the air filter assembly 280 from the rear side.

The jaw 226 a may protrude upward from the rear edge of the air filterseating portion 226. The jaw 226 a may be referred to as “rear supportjaw”.

The door lower surface portion 224 further includes a seating surface227 on which the water tub 260 is placed. The seating surface on whichthe water tub 260 is placed may be referred to as a water tub seatingportion 227 or a water tub seating surface.

In addition, the air filter seating portion 226 and the water tubseating portion 227 may be collectively referred to as “seating portion”or “seating surface”.

The water tub seating portion 227 may be formed at a lower position thanthe air filter seating portion 226. For example, the bottom surface 224of the drawer 220 may be formed with a water tub seating portion 225which is recessed downward from the air filter seating portion 226 tothe rear side of the air filter seating portion 226. In addition, thebottom surface of the water tub seating portion 227 may be formed in aflat name.

Accordingly, when the water tub 260 is seated in the water tub seatingportion 227, since the water tub 260 is disposed at a position lowerthan the air filter assembly 280, the water tub may not interfere withthe flow of the air, and the stored water cannot be prevented fromsplashing into the flow path of the air.

Meanwhile, the jaw 226 a can partition an internal space of the drawer220 into an air purification space in which the air filter assembly 280is installed and an air humidification space in which the water tub 260is installed.

In the air humidification space, the water supplied from the watercontainer 270 is stored in the water storage units 229 a and 229 b, andthe stored water is pumped up by the rotation operation of thehumidifying filter assembly 300 and a humidification process ofhumidifying the air is performed.

If the water flowing by the humidifying process is splashed or flowsinto the air purifying space, the indoor space provided with thehumidifying air purifier 1 may be contaminated through the intake 225.In addition, the air purification performance of the air filter assembly280 can be reduced.

Therefore, the jaw 226 a may perform a breakwater function of preventingwater from splashing from the air humidification space into the airpurifying space. In other words, the jaw 226 a may extend upward to behigher than the water tub seating portion 227 and the air filter seatingportion 226.

The air filter seating portion 226 may be positioned higher than thewater tub seating portion 227. The upper end of the jaw 226 a may bepositioned higher than the bottom surface of the water tub seatingportion 227 by a predetermined height H4.

In other words, the jaw 226 a may extend upward from the water tubseating portion 227 by a predetermined height H4.

Here, the predetermined height H4 may be set to be larger than themaximum height of the water tub 260. For example, the maximum height ofthe water tub 260 may be defined as a distance from a bottom surface ofthe water tub 260 defining the water storage portions 229 a and 229 b toan uppermost end of a water container support portion 261 forming anouter appearance of the water tub 260.

In other words, the predetermined height h4 may be set to be larger thanthe vertical distance from the lowermost end to the uppermost end of thewater tub 260. Accordingly, the jaw 226 a can prevent the inflow ofwater into the air purification space from the water storage portionpositioned in the water tub seating portion 227.

The intake 225, the air filter seating portion 226, and the water tubseating portion 227 may be aligned in the front and rear direction inthe drawer 220 in turn. Therefore, the air sucked in the intake 225flows rearward and passes through the air filter 285 and the humidifyingfilter 330, so that the flow performance can be improved.

In addition, the air flowing into the lower end of the door panel 210 bythe intake 225 formed in the front area of the bottom surface of thedrawer 220 can have a flow flowing through the intake 225 to the upperside.

The air which has passed through the intake 225 passes through the airfilter assembly 280 which is seated in the air filter seating portion226 and the humidifying device filter assembly 300 which is seated inthe water tub seating portion 228 in turn and thus can perform airpurification and air humidification.

Here, since the air filter assembly 280 and the humidifying filterassembly 300 are inserted from the upper side of the drawer 220, aregion (or area) into which air flows may be formed in the air filterseating portion 226 and the water tub seating portion 227 relatively ina perpendicular direction or a longitudinal direction.

In other words, the flow path of the air which passes through the intake225 and is directed upward may be bent laterally and thus the air passesthrough the air filter 285 and the humidifying filter 330.

Therefore, the humidifying air purifier 1 according to the embodiment ofthe present invention due to the above-described air flow path can beinstalled so that the upper ends of the air filter 285 and/or thehumidifying filter 330 are inclined forward than the lower ends thereof.Accordingly, the air purification effect and the air humidificationeffect can be improved.

In other words, the air filter assembly 280 may be inserted diagonallyinto the drawer 220. Accordingly, the intake area of the air in theabove-described flow path of the air can be maximally improved.

Specifically, the air filter assembly 280 may have a lower endpositioned at a rear end of the intake 225 and an upper end positionedat an upper end of the door front surface portion 221.

At this time, the length from the lower end to the upper end of the airfilter assembly 280 may be longer than the length from the upper end ofthe door front surface portion 221 to the front end of the inlet 225and/or the length from the front end of the intake 225 to the lower endof the air filter assembly 280.

The length H3 from the lower end to the upper end of the air filterassembly 280 may be formed to be greater than at least of the firstlength H1 from the front end to the lower end of the air intake 225 anda second length H2 from the front end of the intake 225 to the upper endof the door front surface portion.

Hereinafter, the installation structure for maximizing the intake areaand fixing and supporting the air filter 285 simply and stable due tothe position and the shape of the intake 225 will be described indetail.

The door side surface portion 222 includes a filter guide 225 a forsupporting both side surface portions of the air filter assembly 280.

The filter guide 225 a may extend obliquely upward from both side endsof the air filter seating portion 226. The filter guide 225 a may extendforwardly from the lower portion toward the upper portion by incliningat a predetermined angle α1.

In other words, the filter guide 225 a may extend obliquely rearwardtoward the door lower surface portion 224. Accordingly, the air filterassembly 280 may be disposed so as to be inclined obliquely forward in acase where the air filter assembly 280 is seated in the air filterseating portion 226.

Accordingly, the user can easily lift the air filter assembly 280upward. Accordingly, the filter guide 225 a can facilitate theseparation of the air filter assembly 280 from the drawer 220.

In addition, the door side surface portion 222 further includes a filtersupport portion 225 b extending in both side directions of the filterguide 225 a and supporting both side ends of the front surface of theair filter assembly 280.

The filter support portion 225 b may extend by a predetermined lengthfrom the front portion of the filter guide 225 a in the left and rightdirection (or both side directions). The predetermined length may be setto a length which does not interfere with the air filter 285 of the airfilter assembly 280.

The filter support portion 225 b may support a portion of the frontsurface of the air filter assembly 280. In other words, the filtersupport portion 225 b can function as “front support jaw” which supportsthe air filter assembly 280 so as not to fall forward in a state wherethe air filter assembly 280 is disposed to be inclined.

The filter support portion 225 b may also extend forward from the lowerend toward the upper end by an inclination of the predetermined angleα1. In other words, the hypotenuse of the filter support portion 225 b,which will be described later, may extend to be inclined rearwardly asit goes from the upper end to the lower end by the predetermined angleα1.

In other words, the angle formed by the filter support portion 225 b andthe door front surface portion 221 forms the predetermined angle α1. Thepredetermined angle α1 forms an acute angle, and may be formed in arange of 5 to 45 degrees, for example.

Therefore, a portion of the front surface, both side surfaces, and theupper ends of both side surfaces of the air filter assembly 280 issupported by the filter guide 225 a and the filter support portion 225 bso that the air filter assembly 280 can be stably fixed even if the airfilter assembly is disposed to be inclined forward.

Meanwhile, the length of the surface of the filter support portion 225 bsupporting the front of the air filter assembly 280 may form as a lengthcorresponding to the length of the front surface of the air filterassembly 280 in the vertical direction. For example, the vertical lengthof the air filter 285 may be equal to the length of the side supportedby the filter support portion 225 b.

In detail, the filter support portion 225 b has a lower end formed atthe front end of the air filter seating portion 226 and an upper endformed at the upper end of the door front surface portion 221. In otherwords, the filter support portion 225 b may extend from the front end ofthe air filter seating portion 226 to the upper end of the door frontsurface portion 221 so as to be inclined forward. Accordingly, theintake 225 may be positioned at the lower end of the filter supportportion 225 b.

Here, the width H1 of the intake 225 may be defined as a distancebetween the front end of the air filter seating portion 226 and the rearsurface of the door front surface portion 221. In other words, thelength H1 of the base of the filter support portion 225 b may be definedas the width H1 of the intake 225. The length of the base of the filtersupport portion 225 b may be referred to as a first length H1.

In addition, the length H2 of an edge where the filter support portion225 b and the door front surface portion 221 are in contact with eachother can be defined as a length from a point of the door front surfaceportion 221 which correspond so as to spaced from the lower end of thefilter support portion 225 b to the front side in the horizontaldirection to the upper end of the door front surface portion 221. Inthis case, the length of the edge of the filter support portion 225 bmay be referred to as a second length H2.

In addition, the length H3 of the hypotenuse of the filter supportportion 225 b may be defined as the length H3 from the front end of theair filter seating portion 226 to the upper end of the door frontsurface portion 221. In this case, the length of the hypotenuse of thefilter support portion 225 b may be referred to as a third length H3.

The filter support portion 225 b may support the front surface of theair filter assembly 280 from the front side. In detail, the filtersupport portion 225 b may support the filter case 281 of the air filterassembly 280. Specifically, the filter support portion 225 b can besupported in contact with the front end portion of the first case part281 a, which will be described later.

The front end portion of the first case part 281 a may be formed so asto have a length H3 corresponding to the hypotenuse of the filtersupport portion 225 b. Therefore, the front surface of the air filter285 may be formed as a length H3 corresponding to the hypotenuse of thefilter support portion 225 b.

The third length H3 may be set longer than the second length H2 and thefirst length H1.

In other words, the hypotenuse of the filter support portion 225 bextends longer than the edge of the filter support portion 225 b.Therefore, the air filter 285 may extend longer than the edge of thefilter support portion 225 b in the vertical direction.

In addition, the edge of the filter support portion 225 b may extendlonger than the width of the intake 225.

Accordingly, the air filter 285 can be inserted into the drawer 220 inan oblique direction to optimize the intake area of the air.

In addition, by allowing the user to leave the lower end of theseparated air filter assembly 280 on the door upper surface portion 228in a state where the lower end of the separated air filter assembly 280is inserted into the door upper surface portion 228, the air filterassembly 280 is slid downwardly along the guide of the filter supportportion 225 b by the gravity. As a result, the air filter assembly 280can be easily installed.

The side surface of the filter support portion 225 b may be formed in atriangular shape. For example, the base of the filter support portion225 b may be perpendicular to the hypotenuse of the filter supportportion 225 b. In other words, the side surface of the filter supportportion 225 b may form a right triangle. In this case, the hypotenuselength H2 of the filter support portion 225 b may be derived from aknown mathematical formula.

The filter guide 225 a is provided with a guide rib 225 c protruding toguide and support the rear side of the air filter assembly 280.

The guide ribs 225 c may be positioned on the rear ends of both sides ofthe air filter seating portion 226. The guide ribs 225 may extend upwardfrom the air filter seating portion 226 and have an upper portion bentrearward.

The guide rib 225 c includes a first part 225 d extending upward fromthe jaw 226 a and a second part 225 e bent rearward from the upperportion of the first part 225 d.

The air filter case 281 is provided with a mounting protrusion 280 awhich contacts the guide rib 225 c. The mounting protrusion 280 a mayprotrude rearward from the air filter case 281. When the air filter 280is seated on the air filter seating portion 226, the mounting protrusion280 a may contact the front surface of the guide rib 225 c.

When the air filter assembly 280 moves downward toward the air filterseating portion 226, the mounting protrusion 280 a passes through thefront side of the second part 225 e, 225 d toward the front side of thefirst part 225 d.

At this time, since the second part 225 e is bent from the first part225 d, the mounting protrusion 280 a is easily moved downward withoutinterfering with the second part 225 e, and when the mounting protrusion280 a interferes with the first part 225 d, mounting of the air filterassembly 280 may be completed. The air filter assembly 280 can beprevented from shaking by the contact between the mounting protrusion280 a and the guide rib 225 c.

The door side surface portion 222 further includes an inner plate 222 aextending rearward from the filter guide 225 a, an outer plate 222 bspaced from the outer side of the inner plate 222 a, and a plurality ofreinforcing ribs 222 c extending from the inner plate 222 a to the outerplate 222 b.

The inner plate 222 a forms an inner surface of the door side surface222 and the outer plate 222 b is positioned shorter than the inner plate222 a. Specifically, the upper portion of the outer plate 222 b isconnected to the upper portion of the inner plate 222 a and the lowerportion of the outer plate 222 b may be positioned higher than the lowerportion of the inner plate 222 a.

Therefore, a guide installation space 222 d which is recessed toward theinner plate 222 a is formed below the outer plate 222 b. In the guideinstallation space 222 d, the rail guide 230 can be positioned. The rearportion of the rail guide 230 may be coupled to the rear portions of theinner plate 22 a and the outer plate 222 b.

The rail guide 230 may be movably coupled to a sliding rail 235 providedin the body frame 110.

Meanwhile, the rail guide 230 and the sliding rail 235 may be referredto as rail assemblies.

In addition, the rail guide 230 or the sliding rail 235 may include astopper for limiting a distance that drawer 220 can be drawn out ordrawn into the cabinet 100 in the front and rear direction.

As another example, the body frame 110 may further include a railholding jaw 235 b for forcibly limiting the distance to which the doorassembly 200 may be drawn out of the cabinet.

The rail jaw 235 b may be spaced forward from the front end of the railcover 236. For example, the rail holding jaw 235 b may be positioned atthe lower end portion 110 b of the bar 110 a of the body frame. Morespecifically, the rail holding jaw 235 b may protrude upward from thelower end portion 110 b of the body frame 100 a.

The sliding rail 235 or the rail guide 230 may be drawn out forwarduntil the sliding rail 235 or the rail guide 230 comes into contact withthe rail holding jaw 235 b. Since the rail holding jaw 235 b protrudesperpendicular to an advancing direction of the sliding rail 235 or therail guide 230, the sliding rail 235 or the rail guide 230 holds by therail holding jaw 235 b. Therefore, the rail-holding jaw 235 b can limitthe distance to which the door assembly 200 can be drawn out of thecabinet.

The rail holding jaw 235 b or the stopper (not illustrated) may define amaximum distance to which the door assembly 200 may be drawn out of thecabinet. In detail, the maximum distance to which the door assembly 200may be drawn out may be set so that the humidifying filter assembly 300is positioned on a flat surface formed by the front end of the bodyframe 110.

In other words, in a case where the door assembly 200 is fully drawnout, the front surface of the humidifying filter case 310 and the frontsurface of the bar 110 a of the body frame may be positioned on a flatsurface.

Accordingly, in a case where the door assembly 200 is drawn out, theconfigurations of the humidifying air purifier 1, which need to bemanaged, that is, the air filter assembly 280, the water container 270,and the humidifying filter assembly 300, can be drawn out together.

In addition, since the humidifying filter assembly 300 is positioned ata position corresponding to the front surface opening of the body frame110, the user can draw the configurations which need to be managed outtoward the operable space at once. In other words, the accessibility tothe management components can be improved.

In addition, in a case where the door assembly 200 is drawn out, sincethe humidifying filter assembly 300 is positioned at the front surfaceopening of the body frame 110 or the cabinet 100, It is possible toprevent the internal space 112 of the body frame from being exposed tothe visual field.

Therefore, even if the door assembly 200 is drawn out to the maximum, itis possible to prevent the user from putting his/her hand into theinternal configuration of the cabinet 100. Therefore, the safety of theproduct can be improved.

Even if the door assembly 200 is drawn out to the maximum extent, thecomponents provided in the internal space 112 are not exposed to theuser, so that the outer appearance of the humidifying air purifier 1 canbe neatly maintained. This can result in the upgrading of the productbecause it can satisfy the emotional aspect of the user.

The door rear surface portion 223 is formed with a through-hole 223 bthrough which the sterilizing device 269 is disposed. For example, thesterilizing device 269 may be disposed inside the through-hole 223 b ormay be disposed on the rear side of the through-hole 223 b. The lightirradiated from the sterilizing device 269 may be transmitted to thewater tub 260 via the through-hole 223 b to sterilize the water.

The door assembly 200 further includes a door upper surface portion 228forming a front upper surface of the drawer 220. The door upper surfaceportion 228 forms an upper surface of the filter guide 225 a and may beprovided on both sides of the drawer 220.

The door upper surface portion 228 is formed with a mounting groove 228a which is downwardly recessed and on which the air filter assembly 280is mounted. The air filter case 281 of the air filter assembly 280 isprovided with an insertion protrusion 280 b which is inserted into themounting groove 228 a.

In detail, the air filter case 281 is provided with a first case part281 a which slides along the filter guide 225 a and which obliquelyextends in the vertical direction, and a second case part 281 b which isprovided on the upper side of the first case part 281 a and extends inthe left and right direction. The first case part 281 a forms a sidesurface portion of the air filter case 281 and the second case part 281b forms an upper surface portion of the air filter case 281.

The insertion protrusion 280 b may be provided on the second case part281 b and protrude downward from the bottom surface of the second casepart 281 b. When the second case part 281 b is seated on the uppersurface of the filter guide 225 a, the insertion protrusion 280 b can beinserted into the mounting groove 228 a.

On the upper side of the water tub 260, a water container 270 isdisposed. The water container 270 includes a water container main bodyfor storing water and a water container lid 271 detachably coupled tothe upper side of the water container main body. The user can separatethe water container cover and replenish water inside the water containermain body.

When the water container 270 is placed in the water tub 260, the valvedevice 276 of the water container 270 is opened so that the water storedin the water container 270 can flow into the first water storage portion229 a.

The humidifying filter assembly 300 may be installed in the water tub260. The humidifying filter assembly 300 may be disposed on the rearside of the water container 270 and the lower portion of the humidifyingfilter assembly 300 may be disposed to be submerged in the secondstorage portion 229 b.

The humidifying filter assembly 300 includes a humidifying filter case310 having a shaft support portion 315 and a humidifying filter 330having a central shaft 335 supported by the shaft support portion 315.The central shaft 335 of the humidifying filter 330 may be rotatedclockwise or counterclockwise while being supported by the shaft support315.

The humidifying filter 330 includes a collecting rib 331 a for pumpingwater stored in the second water storage portion 229 b of the water tub260. The water pumped from the collecting rib 331 a moves upward in aprocess in which the humidifying filter is rotated and may flow downwardinto the humidifying filter 330 when the water moves downward again. Thewater flowing downward into the humidifying filter 330 can permeate thefilter medium 332.

The humidifying air purifier 10 further includes a humidifying filtermotor 353 (see FIG. 7) and a humidifying filter driving gear 355 whichis coupled to the humidifying filter motor 353 and rotates, as drivingdevices for rotating the humidifying filter 330. The humidifying filtermotor 353 and the humidifying filter driving gear 355 may be installedin the fan housing 410.

The humidifying filter 330 includes a filter gear 338 interlocked withthe humidifying filter driving gear 355. The filter gear 338 may beprovided on the outer surface of the filter medium 332 and may have aplurality of gears. The plurality of gears of the filter medium 332 canbe geared with the humidifying filter driving gear 355. When thehumidifying filter motor 353 is driven, the filter gear 338 can rotateclockwise or counterclockwise in association with the humidifying filterdriving gear 355.

A contact portion 411 is provided on the front surface of the fanhousing 410. The door rear surface portion 223 is provided with acontact protrusion 223 a for switching operation on the contact portion411. The contact protrusion 223 a may protrude rearward from the doorrear surface portion 223.

When the door 200 is closed, it can be recognized that the door 200 isclosed, by the contact protrusion 223 a contacting the contact portion411 or the contact protrusion 223 a closing to the contact portion 411within a predetermined distance. The fan motor 485 or the humidifyingfilter motor 353 can be driven only when the door 200 is recognized asbeing closed. Thus, the use stability can be improved.

FIG. 14 is an exploded view illustrating a configuration of an airfilter assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention, andFIG. 15 is a sectional view illustrating an air flow in a humidifyingair purifier according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the air filter assembly 280 mayinclude an air filter case 281 having a first case part 281 a and asecond case part 281 b, a filter mounting portion 283 coupled to the airfilter case 281, and an air filter 285 coupled to the filter mountingportion 283.

Hereinafter, the air filter case 281 may be referred to as a filter case281 for convenience of explanation.

The filter case 281 may be formed to have a rectangular shape with itssides inclined. For example, the side surface of the filter case 281 maybe formed in a parallelogram shape.

The side surface of the filter case 281 can be understood as the firstcase part 281 a and the upper surface of the filter case 281 can beunderstood as the second case part 281 b.

The second case part 281 b includes a filter guide seating portion 282 bprovided on the upper portion of the first case part 281 a and a filtercover 282 a coupled to the upper surface of the filter guide seatingportion 282 b. The filter cover 282 a may be provided in a board shapein which a flat surface is formed.

The filter case 281 may configured so that the front surface and therear surface thereof are opened and have a shape corresponding to theair filter seating portion 226 and the filter guide 225 a. For example,the filter case 281 may have a hexahedron shape which is opened in thefront and rear direction.

The lower surface of the filter case 281 may be seated on the air filterseating portion 226 and may have a shape corresponding to the air filterseating portion 226. For example, the lower surface of the filter case281 may be formed as a flat surface.

Accordingly, the air filter assembly 280 may be detached from the drawer220 and laid to stand on a flat ground surface. Accordingly, themanageability of the air filter assembly can be improved.

Meanwhile, in a case where the lower surface of the filter case 281abuts against the ground surface and the air filter assembly 280 standsup, the upper surface of the filter case 281 may be formed to beinclined upward toward the front side.

In detail, a virtual straight line drawn in the extending direction ofthe edge formed by the upper surface and the side surface of the filtercase 281 can be defined as a first parallel line P1. A virtual straightline drawn parallel to the first parallel line P2 from the front end ofthe edge formed by the lower surface and the side surface of the filtercase 281 may be defined as a second parallel line P2.

The first parallel line P1 and the second parallel line P2 are parallelto each other.

In addition, a virtual straight line drawn in the extending direction ofthe edge formed by the lower surface and the side surface of the filtercase 281 may be defined as an inclined line P3.

The inclined line P3 has a predetermined inclination angle β from thesecond parallel line P2. For example, the inclination angle β may be setto an acute angle.

In other words, the upper surface of the filter case 281 may extenddownwardly with respect to the lower surface of the filter case 281 tohave the inclination angle β. Specifically, the upper surface of thefilter case 281 may be formed as an inclined surface more inclineddownward by the inclination angle β toward the rear end than the lowersurface of the filter case 281.

In addition, the lower surface of the filter case 281 may extend upwardwith respect to the upper surface of the filter case 281 so as to havethe inclination angle β. Specifically, the lower surface of the filtercase 281 may be formed as an inclined surface which is inclined upwardtoward the rear end than the upper surface of the filter case 281.

In other words, the extension lines of the upper surface and the lowersurface of the filter case 281 are not parallel to each other and canmeet at any virtual point.

In addition, the air filter seating portion 226 can form an uppersurface inclined upward toward the rear end. Here, the inclination angleβ formed by the upper surface of the air filter seating portion 226 maybe the same as the inclination angle β of the filter case 281 describedabove.

Accordingly, the lower end portion of the air filter assembly 280 may beformed to have a ‘V’ shaped longitudinal section, for example. sidesurface in which the filter support portion 225 b and the air filterseating portion 226 are connected to each other may form a ‘V’ shape.Accordingly, the lower end portion of the air filter assembly 280 can befitted to the edge where the filter support portion 225 b and the airfilter seating portion 226 are connected to each other.

As a result, when the user places the air filter assembly 280 on thedoor upper surface portion 228 and leaves the air filter assembly 280 asit is, the air filter assembly 280 slides downward due to gravity, isfitted into the inclined upper surface of the seating portion 226 andthe filter supporting portion 225 b, and thus the installation thereofcan be easily completed. In other words, user convenience can beimproved.

In a case where the air filter assembly 300 is seated on the air filterseating portion 226, the lower edge of the filter case 281 is inclinedby the inclination angle β. Therefore, the upper surface of the filtercase 281, that is, the second case part 281 b may be horizontallydisposed and seated on the door upper surface portion 228.

As a result, according to the air filter assembly 280 and the drawer 220according to the embodiment of the present invention, there areadvantages that it is possible to maximally improve the flowcross-sectional area of the air sucked into the air filter 285 and thefilter assembly 280 can be easily separated or installed by the user.

Meanwhile, both side surfaces of the filter case 281, that is, the firstcase part 281 a can extend so as to be inclined forward from the lowersurface to the upper portion. In other words, the first case part 281 amay be formed to correspond to the filter guide 225 a.

The second case part 281 b extends to connect the upper portion of thefirst case part 281 a and the upper surface of the second case part 281b extends longer than the distance between the first case parts 281 a onboth sides. Accordingly, both side portions of the second case part 281b may protrude outward from the first case part 281 a and be supportedby the door upper surface portion 228. The insertion protrusion 280 bmay be provided on both side portions of the bottom surface of thesecond case part 281 b.

The filter case 281 may further include a handle 282 c which can begrasped by the user. The handle 282 c may include a recessed groove inthe upper portion of the filter case 281. For example, the handle 282 cmay be recessed to be inclined downwardly from an upper portion of therear side of the filter case 281. Therefore, the user's hand can beeasily inserted from the rear side of the filter case 281.

The user can grasp the handle 282 c together with the filter cover 281by inserting the user's hand into the handle 282 c. As a result, theuser has the advantage of easily separating or mounting the air filterassembly 280 in an inclined vertical direction by grasping the handle282 c.

The filter mounting portion 283 may extend in the vertical directionwith a length corresponding to the hypotenuse of the filter supportportion 225 b.

The filter mounting portion 283 may include a plurality of frames 283 aand 283 b. For example, the filter mounting portion 283 may include anouter frame 283 a corresponding to the opened front end portion of thefilter case 282 and an inner frame 283 b extending in the verticaldirection or both side directions from the outer frame. The inner frame283 b may be formed to connect the facing outer frame 283 a. The framemay be formed of a material having a relatively high ductility.

Therefore, the frame can be bent by applying the pressure by the user.Accordingly, the user can easily separate the filter mounting portion283 from the filter case 281 through the filter mounting portion 283which is bent by pulling the installation rib 286 to be described later.

The air filter 285 may be coupled and stably fixed by the filtermounting portion 283. For example, the air filter 285 is fitted in theframes 283 a and 283 b, thereby being positioned in a space formed bythe frame and purifying the air sucked.

The air filter 285 may include at least one of a prefilter for filteringmatters having relatively large particles, a HEPA filter for filteringmatters having relatively small particles, and a deodorizing filter forremoving odors.

The filter mounting portion 283 and the air filter 285 may be positionedat the open front end portion of the filter case 282. Specifically, thefilter mounting portion 283 can be fitted into the filter case 281. Tothis end, the filter mounting portion 283 may include an upper fixingprotrusion 287 and a lower fixing protrusion 288.

A plurality of the upper fixing protrusions 287 may be formed at theupper end portion of the filter mounting portion 282. For example, theupper fixing protrusion 287 may protrude upward from the upper portionof the filter mounting portion 283.

A plurality of the lower fixing protrusions 288 may be formed at thelower end portion of the filter mounting portion 283. For example, thelower fixing protrusion 288 may protrude downward from the lower portionof the filter mounting portion 283.

The filter case 281 may include an upper fixing groove 284 a into whichthe upper fixing protrusion 287 is inserted and a lower fixing groove284 b into which the lower fixing protrusion 288 is inserted.

The upper fixing groove 284 a may be formed as a groove recessedinwardly on the upper end surface of the filter case 282. The upperfixing groove 284 a may be formed to correspond to the number andpositions of the upper fixing protrusions 287. Therefore, the upperfixing protrusion 287 may be inserted into the upper fixing groove 284 ato be fitted into the upper fixing groove 284 a.

The lower fixing groove 284 b may be formed as a groove recessedinwardly on the lower surface of the filter case 281. The lower fixinggroove 284 b may correspond to the number and positions of the lowerfixing protrusions 288. Therefore, the lower fixing protrusion 288 maybe inserted into the lower fixing groove 284 b to be fitted into thelower fixing groove 284 b.

The filter mounting portion 283 may further include an installation rib286 which can be grasped by the user. The mounting rib 285 may protrudeforward from the front surface of the filter mounting portion 283. Forexample, the installation rib 286 may be formed to protrude forward fromthe inner frame front surface of the filter mounting portion 283.

In addition, the installation ribs 286 may be provided so as to besymmetrical to each other with respect to a plurality of inner framefront surfaces. In other words, a pair of the installation ribs 286 maybe provided. Accordingly, the user can front surface grasp theinstallation ribs 286, respectively and easily mount the filter mountingportion 283 on the filter case 281 or separate the filter mountingportion 283 from the filter case 281.

Since the installation rib 286 extends forward from the front endsurface of the inner frame, there is an advantage that the installationrib 286 does not shield along the flow direction of the air flowing intothrough the recessed portion 30 and passing through the air filter 285and thus and the air passes through the entire intake surface of the airfilter 285.

In addition, since the user can grasp the installation rib 286 so thatthe upper fixing protrusion 287 and the lower fixing protrusion 288 canbe easily inserted into the upper fixing groove 284 a and the lowerfixing groove 284 b, the air filter 285 can be easily managed.

Referring to FIG. 15, the air flow in the humidifying air purifieraccording to the embodiment of the present invention will be brieflydescribed.

When the air blowing fan 480 is driven, air outside the air purifier canbe sucked into the air intake 225 via the recessed portion 30. The airsucked from the air intake 225 flows upward and flows into the drawer220.

Then, the air passes through the air filter assembly 280. In a statewhere the air filter assembly 280 is seated on the air filter seatingportion 226, the air filter assembly 280 is inclined forwardly, the aircan evenly pass through the filter surface of the air filter assembly280.

The air filtered in the air filter assembly 280 flows rearward and canpass through the humidifying filter assembly 300. The air is humidifiedwhile passing through the humidifying filter assembly 300, and thehumidified air can pass through the air blowing fan 480.

Since the air filter assembly 280, the water tub 260, and thehumidifying filter assembly 300 are disposed rearward from the frontportion of the drawer 220 in turn, air filtering and humidification arefacilitated.

The air is sucked in the axial direction of the air blowing fan 480 andcan be discharged in the radial direction. The air which has passedthrough the air blowing fan 480 flows upward and can be discharged tothe outside through the discharge portion 109. In other words, since theair is sucked into the front lower portion of the humidifying airpurifier 10 and discharged to the rear upper portion, the flowresistance is reduced and the air blowing performance can be improved.

FIG. 16 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of ahumidifying air purifier according to another embodiment of the presentinvention, and FIG. 17 is an exploded perspective view illustrating aconfiguration of a door and an air filter of a humidifying air purifieraccording to another embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 16 and FIG. 17, the humidifying air purifier 10 aaccording to another embodiment of the present invention includes a door200 in which an air intake unit 200 a is formed.

Since the door 200 forms the front surface of the humidifying airpurifier 10 a, it can be understood that the air intake unit 200 a isformed on the front surface of the humidifying air purifier 10 a. Theair filter assembly 280 may be disposed behind the air intake unit 200a.

Accordingly, the air is sucked from the front side of the door 200 andflows rearward, and is filtered through the filter assembly installed onthe door 200, and can pass through the humidifying filter assembly andthe air blowing fan. In addition, the air may be discharged to theoutside through a discharge portion 109 formed on the rear side of theupper surface of the cabinet 100.

As described in the previous embodiments, the door 200 may be providedto be drawn out to the front of the cabinet 100 or to be drawn into theinner portion of the cabinet 100. The description of the otherhumidification air purifiers is based on the description of the previousembodiments.

Even though all the elements of the embodiments are coupled into one oroperated in the combined state, the present disclosure is not limited tosuch an embodiment. That is, all the elements may be selectivelycombined with each other without departing the scope of the invention.Furthermore, when it is described that one comprises (or includes orhas) some elements, it should be understood that it may comprise (orinclude or have) only those elements, or it may comprise (or include orhave) other elements as well as those elements if there is no specificlimitation. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all termscomprising technical or scientific terms are to be given meaningsunderstood by those skilled in the art. Like terms defined indictionaries, generally used terms needs to be construed as meaning usedin technical contexts and are not construed as ideal or excessivelyformal meanings unless otherwise clearly defined herein.

Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number ofillustrative embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Therefore, the preferred embodiments should beconsidered in descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation,and also the technical scope of the invention is not limited to theembodiments. Furthermore, is defined not by the detailed description ofthe invention but by the appended claims, and all differences within thescope will be construed as being comprised in the present disclosure.

1. (canceled)
 2. A humidifying air purifier comprising: a cabinet; adoor assembly movably coupled to the cabinet and configured to open andclose a front side opening of the cabinet; a door lower surface portionforming a bottom of the door assembly; an air filter assembly disposedon the door lower surface portion and including an air filter configuredfor purifying air; and an intake formed on the door lower surfaceportion in front of a lower end of the air filter, the intake beingconfigured for the passage of air into the air filter.
 3. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the air filter isinclined with respect to the door lower surface portion.
 4. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the intake isformed on the door lower surface portion at an acute angle with respectto the air filter.
 5. The humidifying air purifier according to claim 2,wherein the air filter inclines in a direction in which the doorassembly is pulled out from the cabinet during opening.
 6. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the intake isformed at a position defined as an orthogonal projection of the airfilter with respect to the door lower surface portion.
 7. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the intake ispositioned at an area of the door lower surface portion corresponding ina direction of gravity from a front surface of the air filter.
 8. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, wherein the intake ispositioned in a front portion of the door lower surface portion.
 9. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 2, further comprising: adoor front surface portion forming a front of the door assembly, whereinthe air filter assembly is positioned rearwardly spaced apart from thedoor front surface portion.
 10. The humidifying air purifier accordingto claim 9, wherein a minimum distance between the air filter assemblyand the door front surface portion decreases at positions further upwardfrom the intake.
 11. The humidifying air purifier according to claim 2,wherein the air filter assembly is disposed on the door lower surfaceportion.
 12. The humidifying air purifier according to claim 2, furthercomprising: a plurality of panels forming an exterior of the cabinet andthe door assembly, wherein at least one of the plurality of panels isformed of wood.
 13. The humidifying air purifier according to claim 2,wherein the door lower surface portion includes an air filter seatingportion positioned behind the intake and on which the air filterassembly is seated.
 14. The humidifying air purifier according to claim13, wherein the air filter seating portion includes a jaw protrudingupward to support a rear end of the air filter assembly.
 15. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 14, further comprising: adoor side surface portion on each side of the door assembly, wherein thedoor side surface portion includes: a filter guide extending forward atan oblique predetermined angle (α1) from the air filter seating portion;and a filter support portion extending in a direction of the door sidesurface portions from the filter guide and supporting the air filterassembly.
 16. The humidifying air purifier according to claim 15,wherein each door side surface portion further includes a guide ribextending upward from the air filter seating portion to guide insertionof the air filter assembly, each guide rib being bent rearward at anupper portion of the guide rib.
 17. A humidifying air purifiercomprising: a cabinet; a door assembly configured to be taken out of thecabinet or inserted into the cabinet; an air filter assembly includingan air filter for purifying air, the air filter assembly beingconfigured to support the air filter obliquely relative to the doorassembly; and an air blowing fan coupled to the cabinet behind the airfilter assembly, wherein the door assembly includes: a door frontsurface portion configured to shield an open front side of the cabinet;a door lower surface portion extending to a rear of the door frontsurface portion, and including a filter seating portion supporting theair filter assembly; and an air intake formed at a positioncorresponding to the door lower surface portion in a direction ofgravity from the obliquely arranged air filter, and positioned in frontof the filter seating portion.
 18. The humidifying air purifieraccording to claim 17, further comprising a discharge portion formed onan upper surface of the cabinet and configured to discharge air in anupward direction.
 19. The humidifying air purifier according to claim17, wherein the door assembly further includes a door side surfaceportion including a filter guide extending in an oblique direction inwhich the door assembly is taken out from the cabinet, and a filtersupport portion protruding from the filter guide to support a front ofthe air filter assembly, wherein the air filter assembly furtherincludes an air filter case supporting the air filter, and wherein theair filter case is configured to slide along the filter support portionand the filter guide, and extends obliquely so that an upper surface isdisposed in front of a lower surface.
 20. The humidifying air purifieraccording to claim 17, wherein the air filter assembly is configured tobe installed by sliding insertion or extraction of the door assembly ina diagonal direction toward the filter seating portion.
 21. Thehumidifying air purifier according to claim 17, wherein the door lowersurface portion further includes a water tub seating surface positionedbehind the filter seating portion, wherein the filter seating portion ispositioned higher than the water tub seating portion.